Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), today made several announcements today about the state’s response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Courts: The courts have extended their closure for all non-essential business–including residential and commercial evictions–through May 17th.
Contact tracing: The state has partnered with SalesForce, a global software company, to make the contact tracing process more efficient. SalesForce is creating a secure database that will allow RIDOH and the National Guard to do contact tracing more efficiently and effectively. SalesForce is also creating a platform for physicians to order tests for patients at the National Guard testing sites.
Job Lot: Starting today, Job Lot is making free fabric available to all Rhode Island residents to make our own fabric face coverings. Every Job Lot has a display set up and they have enough free fabric for 1 million masks.
The Governor reiterated that everyone should wear a cloth face covering when in public. (These are different than medical grade masks, such as N95s, which should be reserved for healthcare workers.) A cloth face covering is a material that covers the nose and mouth. A cloth face cover could be sewn by hand or improvised from household items such as scarves or T-shirts. Cloth face covers are not substitutes for physical distancing, washing your hands, and staying home when ill.
COVID-19 Data Update
Dr. Alexander-Scott announced today that Rhode Island has 220 new cases of COVID-19. This brings Rhode Island’s count to 1,450. RIDOH also announced five additional COVID-19 associated fatalities. Three of these people were in their 70s. One person was in their 80s and one person was in their 90s. Rhode Island’s number of COVID-19 associated fatalities is now 35. A full data summary for Rhode Island is posted online.
Rhode Island Numbers
Last Update: 4/8/2020
Number of Rhode Island COVID-19 positive cases (cumulative):
1,450
Number of people who have had negative test results (cumulative):
10,682
Number of Rhode Island COVID-19 patients who are currently hospitalized
143
Number of Rhode Island COVID-19 patients who are currently in an intensive care unit (ICU)
45
Number of Rhode Island COVID-19 associated fatalities (cumulative)
35
Date
New Positive Cases
Total Positive Cases
3/1/2020
1
1
3/2/2020
0
1
3/3/2020
1
2
3/4/2020
0
2
3/5/2020
0
2
3/6/2020
1
3
3/7/2020
0
3
3/8/2020
0
3
3/9/2020
0
3
3/10/2020
2
5
3/11/2020
0
5
3/12/2020
0
5
3/13/2020
9
14
3/14/2020
6
20
3/15/2020
0
20
3/16/2020
1
21
3/17/2020
2
23
3/18/2020
10
33
3/19/2020
11
44
3/20/2020
10
54
3/21/2020
12
66
3/22/2020
17
83
3/23/2020
23
106
3/24/2020
18
124
3/25/2020
8
132
3/26/2020
33
165
3/27/2020
38
203
3/28/2020
36
239
3/29/2020
55
294
3/30/2020
108
402
3/31/2020
87
489
4/1/2020
77
566
4/2/2020
91
657
4/3/2020
52
709
4/4/2020
97
806
4/5/2020
116
922
4/6/2020
160
1,082
4/7/2020
147
1,230
4/8/2020
220
1,450
Col0
Col1
3/25/2020
15
3/26/2020
23
3/27/2020
28
3/28/2020
29
3/29/2020
35
3/30/2020
41
3/31/2020
59
4/1/2020
60
4/2/2020
72
4/3/2020
77
4/4/2020
93
4/5/2020
103
4/6/2020
109
4/7/2020
123
4/8/2020
143
Age data last updated 4/8/2020
Age Group
Rhode Island COVID-19 patients by age:
0-9
6
10-19
25
20-29
166
30-39
188
40-49
195
50-59
289
60-69
226
70-79
127
80-89
99
90-99
54
100+
Note: Zero in an age category indicates either zero patients or less than five patients.
Sex data last updated 4/8/2020
Sex
Rhode Island COVID-19 patients by sex
Female
743
Male
617
City/Town data last updated 4/8/2020
City/Town
Rhode Island COVID-19 patients by city/town of residence
Barrington
16
Bristol
14
Burrillville
17
Central Falls
20
Charlestown
<5
Coventry
39
Cranston
98
Cumberland
37
East Greenwich
7
East Providence
46
Exeter
5
Foster
<5
Glocester
<5
Hopkinton
<5
Jamestown
6
Johnston
25
Lincoln
14
Little Compton
<5
Middletown
11
Narragansett
9
New Shoreham
<5
Newport
14
North Kingstown
40
North Providence
93
North Smithfield
6
Pawtucket
143
Portsmouth
12
Providence
283
Richmond
0
Scituate
6
Smithfield
19
South Kingstown
23
Tiverton
12
Warren
<5
Warwick
59
West Greenwich
<5
West Warwick
31
Westerly
17
Woonsocket
23
Note: There may be slight discrepancies between the statewide total and the data at the city and town level because additional time is sometimes needed to identify the permanent place of residence of some COVID-19 patients.
Key messages for the public
Anyone who is sick should stay home and self-isolate (unless going out for testing or healthcare).
The people who live with that person and who have been in direct close contact with that person should self-quarantine for 14 days. Direct close contact means being within approximately 6 feet of a person for a prolonged period.
Help is available for people living in quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19. Visit www.RIDelivers.com for connections to groceries, home supplies, restaurants, and mutual aid groups. People can also call 2-1-1.
When people are in public, they should wear a cloth face covering. A cloth face covering is a material that covers the nose and mouth. It could be sewn by hand or improvised from household items such as scarves, T-shirts, or bandanas.
Groups of more than five people should not be gathering. Always avoid close personal contact with other people in public.
Healthcare workers should not be going to work if they are sick (even with mild symptoms).
People who think they have COVID-19 should call their healthcare provider. Do not go directly to a healthcare facility without first calling a healthcare provider (unless you are experiencing a medical emergency).
Everyone can help stop the spread of viruses in Rhode Island.
Get your flu shot, and make sure the people around you do the same.
Wash your hands often throughout the day. Use warm water and soap. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Cough or sneeze into your elbow.
Stay home and do not leave your house if you are sick, unless it is for emergency medical care.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Ryan M. Belmore
Ryan M. Belmore is the Owner & Publisher of What's Up Newp. Ryan is a member of Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers and serves on the Board of Directors for Fort Adams Trust and Lucy's Hearth. Send questions, tips, and story ideas to Ryan@whatsupnewp.com.
